Spina Bifida

"Each year, about 1,500 babies are born with spina bifida.

Hispanic women have the highest rate of having a child affected by spina bifida compared with Non-Hispanic White and Non-Hispanic Black women:

* Hispanic: 4.17 per 10,000
* Non-Hispanic Black or African-American: 2.64 per10,000
* Non-Hispanic White: 3.22 per 10,000

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# In 1992, the U.S. Public Health Service recommended that all women of childbearing age consume 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid daily to reduce the risk of having a pregnancy affected by neural tube defects (NTDs), such as spina bifida. [Read article] Subsequently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration mandated adding folic acid to all enriched cereal grain products by January 1998..."